Electric liquid heater



`Jun 30,1925. 1,544,294

J. DYKMANS ELECTRIC LIQUID HEATER Filed Jan. 16. 1924 2`Sheetl-Sheet 1 f40 f1 g l.

y I- 14 Psqnh D/kmans Jne 30, 1925. 1,544,294

- J.DYKMANs ELECTRIC LIQUID HEATER Filed Jan. 16, 1924 2`Shntl-Sheet 2[Der " %Hornef Patented June 3o, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH DYKMANS, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, ASSIGNOR T0 SOCIT ANONYMEIMEXINEL, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. v

ELECTRIC LIQUID HEATER.

Application filed January 16, 1924. Serial No. 686,549.

To all whom it, my cof/wem:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DYKMANS, subject of the King of the Belgians,residing at 320 Avenue de Tervueren, Brussels, Belgium, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electric Liquid Heaters, of whichthe following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to `an apparatus in which the'fiowor an yelectric current` through a resistance is used for heatingliquids and more particularly running water.` It has for its chiefob]ect to heat the liquid by direct contact with the resistance, whileavoiding the objectionable. eliects of electrolysis and polarization.Moreover, suitable provisions are made to prevent deterioration of theresistance and contacts and to obtain anelcient insulation between'parts at different potentials.

To this end the apparatus according to this invention comprises aninsulating body ofcylindrical or other suitable shape having a helicalgroove which is used both for conveying the liquid and for accommodatingtheresistance, Thev ends of they resistance are respectively connectedto two terminals, one directlyand the other through the intermediary` ofa rod extending through the insulating body. An insulating sleeve offlexible or rigid material closely surrounds the insulating body andforms awatertight joint with the edges of the groove.

The two yterminals are respectively connected to conductors supplyingthe electric current anda switch is inserted in one of said conductors.rThe o erating member for said switch also controlg the operation of avalve inserted in the conduit supplying the liquid, for yexamplewater,-to the insulating body so as to simultaneously cut off the flowof-'water and the flow of ,electric current, while permitting ofregulating the supply of water without breaking the electric circuit.

The terminals, the switchand the valve are mounted on an insulatingsupporting block and protected by lak cap ,or cover sccured to saidblock. On the other hand the rod which extends through the insulatingbody is also secured at one end to the supporting block and at its otherend it carries nuts for securingin position a collecting receptacle forthe heated liquid and protectin casings.

lViti the abovearrangement the liquid travels for a long distance indirectfconsleeve tact with the resistance, the two poles of whlcharelocated at the ends of this distance so that they are suiicientlyinsulated to practically annul the effects of electro-` lysis. Theconnection between the regulatlng valve and the switch permits ofvarying c at will the temperature of the liquid and the simultaneouscutting of the liquid and electric currents precludes the burning of theresistances. Further the mounting of the apparatus is simple, theinsulation is efficient and they thermie efficiency extremely high.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates by way of example anapparatus constructed according to the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus on line A-B of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section on the broken line C-D of Fig. 3.

P Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line Ee-F, .lign 1.

The apparatus illustrated essentially comprises a supporting block 1 ofinsulating material on which are secured the valve 2,' the terminals 21,Q2 and the fixed contacts 3 of the switch. In the base of block 1 isscrewed a metal rod 4 extending through the insulating body 5 which ispressed against the block l by a nut 46 screwed on the threaded lowerend of the rod 4.

The insulating body 5 consists preferably of a cylindrical mass ofporcelain provided with ahelical groove 6 on its outer surface. It isclosely surroundedby an insulating 7, of flexible or stiff rubber forexample, forming with the edges of groove 6 watertight. joints which maybe cemented if necessary. K At its lower end the sleeve 7 has a smallflan e which fits into a circular groove 8 in the ody 5, while the upperend of the sleeve closely fits around the base of block 1 and against apacking gasket 10.

On the flower end of rod 4 is screwed an to a lateral nozzle @t8 of thevalve casing 2. A conical plug 17 with axial inlet and lateral outletcontrols the delivery ot the water ted through a nozzle 1S integral withthe casing 2 and adapted to be connected to a suitable source otIsupply. Water tightness is etticiently secured on the one hand by apacking ring 49 pressed against the plug 1T by a bushing 5t) screwedinto the nozzle i8 and on the other hand by a packing ring alsurrounding the valve spindle and pressed by a threaded cap 19.

In the groove 6 is loc-ated the resistance Q0 consisting of a thincoiled wire of great length. One end of the wire 2O is directlyconnected to the terminal 21 (Fig. 2) while the other end is connectedto the rod 4 which is connected at the top with the terminal Q2 by meansof the screw 23 and contact piece 24. To the terminal 21 is connectedone ot the currentsupply wire 25, while the other wire QG divides intotwo Wires con nected each to one of the tixed contacts 23 o'f theswitch. rlhe movable contact 2T ot the switch is connected to thetermin-il 22 and it is shaped as a blade pivoted at QS to an insulatingcontact carrier 29 and connected by a spring 30 to an arm of saidcontact carrier. lVhen the switch is opened the sudden operation ol theblade 2T by the spring 30 instantaneously breaks the circuit.

The contact carrier 29 is secured to two shafts in alignment with andinsulated Vfrom each other, one ot' said shafts consisting olE the valvespindle and the other shaft 33 being provided with an operating handleThis handle thus permits of simultaneously controlling the circulationot' water and the tlow ot' electric current.. The spring BO is soproportioned that when the switch is closed a slight rotation of theshatt 33 will cause the delivery through the valve 2 to vary withoutinterrupting the electric current, the contact 2T being operated by thespring 30 only when the flow ot water is stopped. The handle 34 issecured to the shaft 33 by a collar 35 pressed by a spring 3G against agraduated plate 3T, said collar carrying' a linger or spring 38 adaptedto move opposite the graduations on plate 3T and to indicate theposition ot the valve plug.

The parts mounted on the block 1 are protected by a cap 39 bearing on anupstanding flange ll ot said block in which are mounted the shaft 33 andthe nozzle 1S. The cap 3S) is secured in position by a knob 4l) screwedon a threaded pin 42 on a volte 43 secured to the block 1 by screwsstal. (Fig. il).

The operation ot the apparatus is as follows:

"hen the handle S-l is operated to close the switch and open the valve,water under pressure admitted axially ot the plug 1T issues laterallytherefrom, passes through the duct 1G into the groove G and follows thesaid groove around the insulating body 5 until it reaches the lower endthereof. then passes through the bore 45, the cup 12, opening 47, cap 9,sleeve 13V and escapes through the nozzle 14. On the other hand anelectric circuit is closed between the wires 25 and 26 through terminal21, resistance Q0, rod 4, screw 9.3, contact member Q4, terminal and thecontacts 21 and 3 of the switch. The water in groove 6 is in contactwith the resistance 20 over a lonfr distance andy it becomes heated asit absorbs the calories given off by the resistance. The temperature ofthe water delivered through the nozzle 14 can be regulated by varyingthe flow of Water by means of handle 3l. lVlien such tlow is stopped theelectric current is also cut olf by the action of spring 3() asexplained above.

It is ot' course understood that various modifications may be made inthe apparatus described without departing from the spirit ol' theinvention.

I claim:

1. ln an electric liquid heater, the combination of a cylindricalinsulating body having a helical groove along its lateral snrface, aninsulating block on the top of said body, a pair of terminals on saidblock, a resistance in said groove extending along the whole lengththereof, a threaded metal rod extending through said body and screwedinto said block, one of said terminals being directly connected to theupper end of said resistance, the other terminal being connected to thelower end of said re sistance through the intermediary of said rod, a.sleeve closely surmunding the edges of said groove, an inner casingsurronndmg said sleeve, the lower end of said casing forming acup-shaped receptacle connected to the lower end of said groove, a capscrewed on the free end of said rod for securing said casing inposition, a threaded sleeve integral with said cap, an outer casingbearing on said block, said outer casing forming a heat-insulating airchamber around said inner casing, a discharge nozzle screwed on saidsleeve and adapted to secure said outer casing in position, and a con`nection between said receptacle and nozzle through said cap and sleeve.

2. In an electric liquid heater, the combination ot' an insulating bodyhaving a helical groove along its lateral surface, an insulating blockon one end of said body, a resistance in said groove extending along thewhole length thereof, a valve on said block for admitting a flow ofliquid to said groove. a switch on said block for sending electriccurrent through said resistance, a pair otl terminals on said block, oneof said terminals being directly connected to one end of saidresistance, a metal rod extending lltl lil() through said bod and intosaid block, said posed between said operating means and rod formingboth7 an electrical connection switch for permitting limited movement ofbetween the other end of said resistance and said valve independently ofsaid switch and 10 the other of said terminals and a mechanicalproducing a sudden operation of said 5 connection between said bod andsaid switch.

block, means for simultaneous y operating Said valve and switch, and aspring inter- JOSEPH DYKMANS.

